How to Find the Perfect Spinning Shoe For You

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So, you decided to start spinning. Inevitably, one class a week lead to two and now you are a full-blown SoulCycle / Crank / FlyWheel fanatic. When you start to realize that the shoes you're wearing for your daily sweat are shared with countless strangers, it's time to invest in your own pair of spinning shoes.

After a few online searches it's easy to feel stumped by the world wide web of cleats types (referred to in cycling as cleats, not “clips”) and shoe styles, so here's a breakdown of how I found my perfect spinning cleat.

First, here's a bit of my backstory. As an athletic-but-always-working New Yorker and former squash player, I found spinning about 2 years ago and (like many fellow spin enthusiasts) got hooked fast. I found myself watching the clock on Sunday afternoons for my studio’s booking window to open so I could sign up for my preferred times before they filled up. I didn’t mind waking up at 5:30 am to make it to the 6:00 am class as spinning woke me up better than coffee ever did. As I fell more in love with sitting on a stationary bike for an hour at a time (I know, it still sounds crazy to me too) I considered getting my own shoes. Not only did the idea of sharing with strangers gross me out; I wanted to see if there were more comfortable options out there.

"There are so many articles on outdoor cycling and mountain biking but a surprising lack of resources for indoor spin fans."

I quickly felt overwhelmed by the many different varieties of shoes when I started researching. There are so many articles on outdoor cycling and mountain biking but a surprising lack of resources for indoor spin fans. I didn’t know the difference between SPD, SPD-SL, Delta, 2 bolt styles and 3 bolt style cleats but I do now! In order to get to the bottom of this we tried out three popular brands, Pearl Izumi, Mavic and Giro.

Rosa Barney is a girly girl who loves spinning, cold pressed juices and music. Follow her on Twitter

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Pearl Izumi Select Road III

True to size? Yes
Comfort level: The least comfortable of this trio.
Cleat style: 3 bolt, we used Deltas which look like this.

Here's a few things you should know about cycling shoes:

  • Cycling shoes come in European sizes.
  • Brands do not make half sizes.
  • If you fear that you are in between sizes definitely go to the larger size for this reason: if you are wearing them for indoor cycling you will be putting a lot of pressure on your foot when you are in the standing position. Any resistance you add to your wheel will mean increased pressure on your feet.
  • If your shoes are too tight to begin with this added pressure can be almost unbearable, it will send pain up your leg and also cause you to feel fatigued faster.
  • Shoes are not sold with cleats attached, you will have to purchase cleats separately and either screw them in yourself or have them installed at a cycling or sporting goods store.
  • Most spin studios that rent cycling shoes offer road style shoes with delta cleats. These are characterized by a soft leather outter sole and a very stiff, plate style bottom sole. They have three holes in the bottom to accommodate a three bolt style cleat.

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I really wanted to love this shoe but unfortunately that just wasn’t in the cards. The main problem for me was that the sole was incredibly stiff to the point where each revolution on the bike started to hurt. Pearl Izumi calls the sole a “Power Plate” designed for durability and speed. While it is true that a stiffer sole does allow the rider to push harder there is such a thing as too stiff and I believe that is the case for this shoe. It is not all negative though, this shoe is very lightweight which is a definite plus when riding indoors or outdoors. The upper body of the shoe was smartly designed with the motion of the ride kept at the fore and how the ankle bends, unlike other shoes there is no uncomfortable rubbing at the base of the ankle from the closure straps.

$100

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Mavic Cyclo Tour

True to size? Yes
Comfort level: Super comfy!
Cleat style: SPD

This was by far the most comfortable of the three shoes we tested out. Instead of the traditional fiber plate sole, this is fitted with a stiff rubber. Shoes that require SPD style cleats lie flat on the ground when walking unlike road shoes with 3 bolt cleats which cause you to lean back on your heels when not clipped into a bike. This means that you can walk to spin class without worrying about a spare pair of shoes or damaging your cleats in the process. The feel of the inside of the shoe is similar to walking shoe, comfort was clearly at the forefront of this designers mind.

Though it might not be the most aesthetically pleasing of the shoes on the market I did feel best when wearing them. The Ergo Fit Ortholite sole provides arch support and cushioning which helped prevent my legs from feeling fatigued as quickly as I did with the other styles.

$120

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Giro Factor ACC

True to size? Yes
Comfort level: Moderately comfortable.
Cleat Style: 3 bolt, (we used Deltas).

This is a gorgeous shoe. Aesthetically is was my favorite by far. If I hadn't tried the Mavics this would have been my favorite shoe overall.

Though it does have a stiff fiber plate bottom the shoe comes with three different arch support inserts to accommodate virtually any foot type. Keep all three sizes for your first ride and be prepared to change the insert to make sure you find the perfect fit. The inserts can also be cut with scissors to further customize your experience with the shoe. The snap closure ensures that your shoes will not get loose while you are riding however they do take a little longer to get on and off than the other velcro closure varieties.

Giro claims that the Evofiber™ outter sole with mold to the shape of your foot, which for me has yet to be seen since they are still very new however the outter sole is very soft and comfortable.

$300

Note: Before purchasing shoes and cleats check with your studio. Most of the studios are equipped with pedals that accommodate delta cleats on one side and SPD cleats on the other.

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